CD Reviews

Kind of messy

Dave | Pa | 10/08/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Being a fan of both Morbid Angel and Carcass, I decide to check this out due to other reviews which compared this band's sound to those of the aformentioned. What I heard was both interesting and discomforting at the same time. Vocals are straight out of Carcass's "Necroticism" album, alternating between the high and low pitches, only with more effect on them. The music is played in kind of a weird style. It's definitely in the Morbid/Carcass style, with chaotic patterns/changes reminiscent of "Symphonies of Sickness" or "Formulas Fatal to the Flesh," and also contains the inclusion of other instruments here and here. What makes it sound messy is the guitars. The guitars are harmonized in a very strange way. Both are very low-tuned, to A I think. The guitars never seem to be playing in the same key at any given point in the recording. It gives off a very disharmonic vibe, creating a very surreal effect. It's both interesting and discomforting at the same time. Interesting because it makes you want to dissect it and pay closer attention to what you're listening to, and discomforting because one's initial reaction is to think "They're out of tune" and want to fix it. I found that once I surpressed this initial reflex, I was able to let it in and after about 5 listens, I'm really starting to enjoy it. I know they're not the first band to ty this kind of stuff, but I think it's an effective way to separate yourself from the pack, and give your cd some more replay value. It takes several listens to let everything soak in and, as it's very layered. They could be a good asset to Nuclear Blast if they're promoted right."